Ornithogalum saundersiae, or giant chincherinchee, is a species of Ornithogalum (star of Bethlehem) in the subfamily Scilloideae of family Asparagaceae.
| Ornithogalum saundersiae | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Asparagaceae |
| Subfamily: | Scilloideae |
| Tribe: | Ornithogaleae |
| Genus: | Ornithogalum |
| Species: | O. saundersiae
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| Binomial name | |
| Ornithogalum saundersiae | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Description edit
Ornithogalum saundersiae is a perennial, herbaceous bulbous plant. It reaches 30 to 100 cm. in height. The leaves measure 60 x 5 cm. and are less than half as long as the flower stem. The upper leaf surface is a shiny dark green. The inflorescence consists of numerous flowers and is conical. The flower stems are long. The tepals are white, 10 to 15 millimeters long. The ovary is a very dark green. The plant flowers from June to August.
Distribution and habitat edit
Ornithogalum saundersiae is found in South Africa in the Eastern Transvaal, Natal, and Eswatini. It grows best on rocky glades.
Uses edit
Sold as bulbs for ornamental garden flowers and as cut flowers.
Bibliography edit
- Eckehardt J. Jäger, Friedrich Ebel, Peter Hanelt, Gerd K. Müller (eds.): Rothmaler Exkursionsflora von Deutschland. Band 5: Krautige Zier- und Nutzpflanzen. Spektrum Akademischer Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg 2008, ISBN 978-3-8274-0918-8.
- Gard. Chron. ser. 3, 16:452. 1894
- "Ornithogalum saundersiae". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
- Global plants
References edit
- ^ The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species, retrieved 1 October 2016
External links edit
Media related to Ornithogalum saundersiae at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Ornithogalum saundersiae at Wikispecies
